Adapter



April 20, 1954 K,- M M|| ER 2,675,609

= ADAPTER Filed July 2, 1951 /f Ver; for* Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ADAPTER Kenneth M. Miller, Adrian, Mich.

Application July 2, 1951, Serial 'No. '234,839

4 Claims. l

This invention relates to supports of wide ranges of adjustment toengage an article to be supported with wide ranges in shifting of thearticle thus supported.

This invention has utility when incorporated in a multiple clamp type ofholder, as from a turn table base, transverse guide means carriedthereby, arms adjustable along the guide means to extend away from thetable, and swingably mounted C-clamps on the arms. This assemblyprovides wide adaptability for carrying on construction and repairprograms, more particularly in conforming to dimension and specialconfigurations of instrument chassis encountered in the commercialfields of television, radio and disk record apparatus. The assemblyunits have chassis of variant size decks, platforms, and different planegroupings, which chassis are usually rigid. Inspection and repairessentially requires ready access to chassis from all directions, notonly for viewing, but setting, adjustments, replacements, and repairs,even as to retting operations. Under the programas herein renderedpractical .for eicient handling, the chassis, when out of its cabinetexposing the parts which are to function in the performance, is engagedat two spaced apart regions by a pair of clamps, swung to meet the pairof faces of the chassis to be gripped by each clamp, thus supporting thechassis with access to all its parts. vides a universal type mounting,with horizontal axis swinging at the mountings for the clamps, andvertical axis mounting as to the turn table base.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l Ais a -side elevation, with parts broken away, of an embodimentof the invention for handling communications equipment chassis items;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the unit of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a partial end elevation looking from the left in Fig. 1, witha different item of work than in Figs. 1 or 2.

A turn table mounting or base I has a central internally threaded boss 2from which radially extend ribs 3 to a circular track 4. A turn table 5has a track 6 to ride on the track 4 of the base I. The table 5 has acentral bearing 'I from which radial ribs 8 extend to the track 6. Awing bolt 9 through the bearing 'I is operable to engage the threadingin the boss 2. `If desired, the turn table pair I 5, may be left freefor relative rotation on a vertical axis. However, as there may beoccassion for work strains upon a This prou table I, V5.

chassis Yor other item for attention, the bolt :9 may lbe set inclamping relation, thereby to 'lock the lturn table against any swingingor rotating, thus holding such rm to the base I. The vbase I has earsI0, with bolt holes ifI, so that bolts -I12 through the holes 4II mayserve positively to anchor the base I with a work :bench I3.

Diametrically disposed and rising from 'the table 5 away from the track6, is a pai-r of lugs I4 with parallel openings I5 therethrough in aplane parallel to the pla-ne of theabutting tracks 4, `6. Knurl headedscrews t6 at the lugs -I4 extend to engage respective guide means orrods Il. The openings I5 locate the rods Il in parallel relation. Inorder to cover the sharp edges of the ends of the rods -Il and/or 'togive rectangular frame rigidity thereto either or both pair of ends ofthe Vguide rods Il may have detachably iixed therewith an end bracemember I8. Parallel sockets or seats 'I9 in the member I8 may be thrustVover the ends of the rods Il, and there anchored by set screws 2G inthe members I8. The screws I6 permit ready longitudinal adjustment ofthe rods ll relatively to vthevturn In the event there be occasion foruse independent of the members i3, one of the rods I'I may be Vadjustedrelatively to the other. However, the normal occasion for adjustment isto centralize the work region or the weight or" the item havingattention, with the turn table 5.

According to the overall dimension of the items to be handled, there maybe selected appropriate length for "the -ro'ds or guides II. Arms or'risers are assembled with the guide rods, and in the carrying forwardof the adjustment ranges hereunder, the risers are placed on the rods I1before the members I8 are fastened over their ends; or the risers, ifbridging the parallel rods, may be used without the members I 8.

Wing bolts 2I at slide sections 22 lock the riser brackets or arms 23 atselected adjusted positions along the rods I'l toward and away from thelugs I4. After mounting the pair of brackets 23 on the rods Il onopposite sides of the lugs I4, one or both of the members I8 also may bemounted on the rods I1.

The upper or free ends of the brackets 23 provide bearings 24, which asto the pair of brackets are located in axial alignment by the rods I l.At each of the bearings 24, is a threaded stem 25 rivet anchored with aC-clamp frame 26. The externally threaded stems 25 in protruding fromthe bearings 24 and extending away from each other, are there engaged bya handwheel nut 2l having hub 28 to be friction locked against the faceof the bracket 23 about the bearing 24. There is thus achieved afriction held angular setting for the G-clamp frames 26.

The C-frame 26 has a rigid plane face 29 in a plane parallel to the axisof the stem 25. Opposing this face 29 is an internally threaded overhang30 in which is operable a knurl headed screw 3l having a relativelymovable end or adaptor 32 to be thrust toward the face 29, to grip at aregion 33 a radio chassis 34 or other item of work. spaced therefrom asecond region 35 of the chassis 34, may be gripped, thereby establishinga mounting along a horizontal axis ior readily orienting the chassisinto any one of a complete range of positions into which it may belocked by the nuts 21; While any one of a vertical axis range ofpositions may be selected by rotation of the turn table and the clampingof the wing bolt 9.

The disclosure herein is an adaptor having facility for iitting-intowidely variant demands for operators on construction of equipment orapparatus, as well as upkeep, repair, remodeling, and testingperformance thereof. Communications equipment, whether for disk recordoperation, transmission or reception, including radio and televisionapparatus or equipment, usually is assembled on a base or chassisadapted to be housed in a cabinet or housing.

The adaptor readily responds to the dimension requirements in providingan axis for orienting the equipment 34 (Fig. 1), or thinner base orchassis 36 (Fig. 2) as well as the wider spacing required by the C-clampgripping of chassis region 31 (Fig. 3).

There arise niceties requiring most thorough checking, as well asaccuracy and neatness in work execution. Should there be occasion forplacing an element requiring some structural departure as to thechassis, as by drilling, the adaptor may be turned on its turntablebearings, and then clamped by the wingheaded screw 9, if holding againstwork pressure be required. Further different axis turning, of thechassis proper at the bearings 29, may orient the work so that cut-awayfines fall clear of the equipment. Again, as soldering or like problemsas of coating, the section of wire, or face to be so treated, may be soexposed to approximate horizontal, so that the liquid may more readilyset against sloughing off.

During the diagnosis course, lead in electric connection means 39 may bereadily brought into the equipment at the clearway between the brackets23, as with take ofi conduit or duct 39. These details for reproductionrenements are of great importance in broadcasting and receptionequipment.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A universal adaptor for construction and repair positioning ofair-Wave communication apparatus, said adaptor comprising a baseproviding a rst axis bearing, a turntable coacting With the basebearing, parallel guide rods slidably carried by and extendingtransversely of the turntabie, rst and second riser arms mounted on theguide rods and slidable therealong to vary the spacing between the arms;said rods, arms and turntable being swingable on the first axis bearingin a rst unit relatively to the base, a pair of apparatus-engagingclamps, and axially aligned swivel bearings mounting the clamps on thearms and providing a second axis bearing extending in directiontransversely of the first axis bearing direction, said clamps andapparatus engaged therebetween forming a second unit swingable on thesecond axis bearing in a direction different from the swingabledirection of the rst unit, the slidable mounting of the guide rods andriser arms permitting the weight of the apparatus to be centralized withrespect to the turntable.

' 2. A universal adaptor for construction and repair positioning ofair-wave communication apparatus, said adaptor comprising a baseproviding a bearing axis, a turntable coacting with the base bearing,parallel guide rods slidably carried by and extending transversely ofthe turntable, first and second riser arms coacting with the guide rodsfor sliding adjustment relatively to the turntable, axially alignedtrunnions extending thru the arms, clamps in opposing relation carriedby the trunnions, and locking means for the trunnions in angularly setpositions as to the arms for the clamps, the slidable mounting of theguide rods and riser arms permitting the Weight of the apparatus to becentralized with respect to the turntable.

y 3. The adaptor of claim 1 wherein the second axis bearing is parallelto the rods.

4. The adaptor of claim 1 wherein the first axis is vertical and thesecond axis is horizontal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 993,390 McBirney May 30, 1911 1,220,507 Flynn Mar. 27, 19171,313,061 Brown Aug. 12, 1919 1,386,318 Cowan Aug. 2, 1921 1,670,253Gilbert et al May 15, 1928 1,875,761 Power Sept. 6, 1932 1,969,310Lowrie et al Aug. 7, 1934

